by Grace Wilson
The pomegranate is popping up everywhere these days. There are endless varieties of pomegranate juices, smoothies and nutritional supplements on the shelves of health-food stores. I’ve even seen it make appearances on restaurant menus. But what is it about this ruby red, sweet-tart fruit that spas are finding so tasty?

Jaclyn Losie, Licensed Aesthetician and the owner of SkindustryTM (a consulting company for the skin care industry), tells me it’s considered a super-antioxidant, even better for us than green tea or red wine. It’s full of vitamins A, C, potassium, and folic acid, which together can promote the re-growth of the outer layers of dermal cells. It’s also been shown to protect against certain types of skin cancers when applied topically.

Pomegranate is incredibly versatile for designers of spa treatments. The acids from the fruit are great exfoliators; the seeds can be used in all kinds of scrubs. But if you follow the trail of money, the main reason it’s so popular is due to the anti-aging results people are experiencing. Pomegranate extracts in facials and skincare products are working their magic on the over-40 crowd looking for natural alternatives to enhance a younger, more refreshed, glowing complexion.

I purchased a selection of pomegranate face and body products for myself to see if all the hype was justified. I have to say, as a whole, the products were pretty delicious. There’s something about the smell that’s unusually satisfying. One of these products, however, blew all the others out of the water. Pomegranate Sunflower Skin Defense Lotion by Nature’s Gate (who is not paying me to say this) is the best all-natural skin lotion I’ve ever used. As someone who has very dry skin, this product has been able to keep my skin feeling saturated with moisture all day without feeling greasy. In fact, when I shower the next day, I can still feel it on my skin, which is a miracle.

I also treated myself to a pomegranate facial being offered by an esthetician near my home. Did I walk out of there with my skin glowing? Yes, of course. My skin felt clean, hydrated, and I dare say I even looked youthful and refreshed, just as she claimed I would. But were the results greater than getting a standard facial? Anything particularly special due to the addition of some kind of pomegranate product? Honestly, I can’t be sure.

Something to consider: pomegranate is being scientifically studied by the medical community. In coming years we’re likely to hear much more conclusive evidence in support of pomegranate’s effectiveness on healthy cardiovascular function, cholesterol and phytoestrogen levels. When deciding on spa services for your next appointment, it can’t hurt to try something new if there’s a possibility of some greater, health-enhancing benefit. After all, anything absorbed through the skin gets into the blood stream. Maybe this new “cosme-ceutical” can affect our well-being more than we know.

So where can you indulge? Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Spa in New York City is offering a Pomegranate Warm Stone Facial that gets rave reviews. At the Niagara Falls Marriott you can get a Pomegranate Pedicure. The Lake Austin Spa Resort in central Texas offers the Perfect Pomegranate Body Treatment, complete with a scrub, body wrap and massage. And on the West coast at the Ultimate Skin Day Spa in Calabasas (just North of Los Angeles), you can make an appointment for a Cranberry and Pomegranate Facial. There’s so much available. You won’t have any trouble putting together a pomegranate-themed spa day in your area.

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